FMO (The Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank) have announced the signing of a US$25 million NASIRA guarantee agreement with Nigeria’s First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB), which will help FCMB expand its funding to agricultural, youth, and women-owned SMEs without requiring collateral.Funded by the European Commission, NASIRA is one of FMO’s most innovative programmes, which encourages local banks to provide funding to small entrepreneurs without collateral, with FMO providing a guarantee instead. The guarantee is often not fully utilized, showing that these entrepreneurs actually are not as risky as they are perceived to be. Says FMO: Job creation in Nigeria is…
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Sharon Obuobi (Founder, Alt/ Finance) Talented entrepreneur with experience in art, business and technology, Sharon Obuobi is the founder of Alt/Finance – Alternative Data Solutions – a New York-based data science company delivering historic and real-time data insights on Fine Art, classic cars, luxury watches, handbags and other collectibles. By providing feeds, integrations and software solutions for real-time views into market performance, Alt/ Finance is disrupting and democratising the luxury tech market by bringing much-needed transparency to improve the experience of consumers. 🎥SharonObuobi The company’s B2B subscription-based data solutions gives seamless access to financial-grade visibility of the $3 trillion alternative…
‘Welcome to Botswana’: Advocate Stephen B. Tiroyakgosi (Ombudsman and Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana) Between 29 July – 2 August 2024, the world will be converging on the Botswana capital, Gaborone for the International Ombud Expo 2024 whose theme is Trusted Institutions: Righting Injustices, Bolstering Quality Governance. The Expo & Exhibition will bring together over 500 ombud offices, human rights bodies, grievance handlers, integrity organisations, and related oversight and governance institutions from over 100 countries. Participants, numbered at over 3,500 will include a long list that covers scholars and academics, media organisations and practitioners, book publishers, trainers…
Dotun Adeoye (Co-Founder, AI In Nigeria) Co-Founder of AI in Nigeria, Dotun Adeoye, is excited to announce the launch of the AI In Nigeria community across multiple locations in the next two weeks : Lagos: Saturday, June 15, 2024 Ibadan: Monday, June 17, 2025 Abuja: Wednesday, June 19, 2024 Uyo: Saturday, June 22, 2024 According to the company, its clear objective is to revolutionise Nigeria through AI innovation, in two major ways: AI Readiness Assessments, which guide organisations in evaluating their technology setup, data, and staff skills – and highlighting areas for improvement – as a prerequisite to strategic AI…
Obinna Iwuno (President of the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria – SiBAN), recently paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT Limited, Jane Egerton-Idehen. The strategic meeting underscores the collaborative efforts to enhance blockchain technology’s integration within Nigeria’s satellite communication sector. Together, they discussed innovative pathways to leverage blockchain for improved security, transparency and efficiency in satellite communications. One of the more immediate use cases for blockchain technology in the context of satellite communication involves the untethering of information from terrestrial influence. Conducting transactions on Earth’s orbit is a security feature in itself as it reduces…
In Germany: Geregu Power Plc inks a partnership deal with Siemens Energy AG to raise overall power generating capacity in Nigeria to 1,200MW (L-R) Dietmar Siersdorfer (Managing Director, Siemens MEA) and Femi Otedola (Chairman of the Board, Geregu Power Plc.) 📸 Femi Otedola In a signing ceremony which took place in Berlin on Wednesday May 29, 2024, Geregu Power (Nigeria’s power generating solutions provider) and Siemens Energy have agreed to expand the capacity of the Geregu 1 power plant from the current 435 MW to 500 MW. An upgrade will convert the plant to combined-cycle operations with a view to adding a third…
Dr. Aishat Adeniji (Co-Founder & CEO, HealthPort) Aishat Adeniji (Co-Founder & CEO at HealthPort) established the company as a digital health startup bent on improving maternal and pediatric hypoxia outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa, through data-driven critical medical supply distribution. Her company’s patient-centric “Oxygen-as-a-Service” Breathe solution, for example, gives hospitals access to reliable medical oxygen supply, using sustainably powered modular oxygen devices that are installed near-site or on site, and supported by proactive demand forecasting. Dr. Aishat Adeniji 🎥 For NumerisMedia x GITEX Africa 2024 By bringing innovative technologies together, HealthPort is bridging any gaps in infrastructure, knowledge and costs in…
On June 01, 2024, Afrotech Fest (by Tech Safari x Founders Connect) will be bringing together Africa’s startup ecosystem (including global friends) under one roof, in London. With stellar attendance by operators, founders and investors who are building across continents, the line-up of speakers include:Blessing Abeng 🌔 – Operator and serial founderYvonne Bajela – Renowned investor and Partner at LocalGlobeVictor Alade – Founder and CEO of RaenestNikola Pavesic – Director of Startups at InfobipNimmy Mathews – Head of EMEA Startups at Amazon Web Services (AWS)Anthony O. – Co-Founder and CTO/CPO at VertoPeace Itimi – Founder + Creator at Founders ConnectCaleb…
📸 Maria Rotilu Maria Rotilu (ex Octopus Ventures and Oxford Seed Fund) is the Founder of OpenseedVC and wants to be the proverbial first cheque received by startups that are launched by experienced operators across Africa and Europe.Based in London, OpenseedVC has just reached the first close of its $10 million angel-style, early-stage fund, and fully intends to provide cheques of up to $150,000 to startups focusing on the future of commerce (including B2B software, AI, and fintech), future of work, and digital health. Says Rotilu: We exist to back the most talented and experienced operators from day zero. As…
At the 3i Africa Summit (R): Jones Amegbor (Founder & CEO, PayAngel) Multi-award winning high integrity payment service, PayAngel, is well represented at the ongoing 3i Africa Summit, taking place at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) in Ghana. The 3i Africa Summit is a platform of opportunity for shaping Africa’s future in FinTech, and stands on three pillars: Innovation, Impact, and Investment —each crucial in sculpting Africa’s future. Led at the Summit by CEO Jones Amegbor, the PayAngel team is demonstrating to visitors the multiple channels through which the company provides solutions for businesses and individuals. PayAngel services enable…